New Zealand Travel 61 Day 15 −4 – Observing My Grandchild: The Joy of Learning English and the Reality of Japanese Education

7-year-old grandson is completely absorbed in reading The 26-Story Treehouse, and I felt both surprised and moved watching him. When he started school at age five, he could barely write the alphabet and could read words only using phonics. Now, he enjoys reading by relying on pictures and context, imagining the story as he goes. He dislikes repetitive grammar exercises, but he loves reading that engages his imagination.

On the other hand, in the 33 years I taught English in Japan, lessons were centered on grammar and memorization. Students were pressured by grades and rankings, and I often wondered whether this approach truly helped them use English. Repetition through programs like Kumon and grammar drills built a foundation, but there was little time for students to enjoy reading or experience natural English.

Watching my grandson, I realized that English skills cannot be developed through grammar and vocabulary memorization alone; experiences that involve reading, listening, and thinking while enjoying the process are essential. Test-focused learning may develop accuracy and speed, but it does little to cultivate enjoyment, imagination, or self-motivated learning.

Through this experience, I felt again the importance of providing opportunities for children to enjoy English, not just memorize grammar. If lessons included time for self-directed enjoyment, students would probably like English much more.

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Small Practical Ideas for Japanese Education (Examples)
• Let children read English picture books or storybooks for short periods, appropriate to their age.
• Incorporate listening experiences using audio books or books with audio support.
• Allow children to use English materials they are personally interested in, separate from school assignments.
• Provide opportunities to listen to English songs or videos for fun.
• Set aside time for reading, listening, and speaking purely for enjoyment.

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Hashtags

#EnglishEducation #LearningEnglish #BookLovers #ChildDevelopment #EnglishSkills #JapaneseEducation #Kumon #NaturalEnglish #JoyOfLearning #Imagination

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Summary of The 26-Story Treehouse (One Paragraph, for Notes)

The 26‑Story Treehouse is a humorous children’s book by Australian author Andy Griffiths and illustrator Terry Denton. The story follows Andy and Terry as they live in an outrageous 26-story treehouse filled with attractions such as bumper cars, slides, and an ice cream shop with 78 flavors, while navigating adventures with friends and the chaos of completing their next book. The combination of lively narrative and comic-style illustrations sparks children’s imagination and makes reading fun. The series is popular worldwide, published in multiple countries including Australia, and has received high praise from readers.